• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center

Show Search
Hide Search
  • Disease Information
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Gout
    • Osteoporosis
  • Patient Corner
    • Drug Information Sheets
    • Managing Your Arthritis
    • RheumTV – Patient Education Video Library
  • Our Research
    • Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
    • Current Research Studies
    • The Camille Julia Morgan Arthritis Research and Education Fund
  • About Us
    • Appointment Information
    • Contact Us
    • Our Faculty
    • Our Staff
    • Rheumatology Specialty Centers
  • Donate
Home / Ask the Expert / Stair Climbing and Osteoarthritis

Stair Climbing and Osteoarthritis

August 18, 2011 By Victoria Ruffing, RN

Question

My wife is 41, moderately active and the ortho told her she’s got arthritis in both knees. One is worse as she recently injured it. Besides PT and drugs, would reducing stair climbing help? We live in a 2 story house and she’s a homemaker, so she’s up & down the stairs at least 10x per day. Would moving to a one story house help: A) relieve her knee pain, B) delay the progression of arthitis, C) delay more aggressive treatments (i.e. eventual knee replacement she might need – her dad had double TKR at age 60)?? We want to keep maximum mobility during middle age. Thanks.

Answer

You ask an interesting question.  We know from research that increased activity is actually good for osteoarthrtis of the knee.  We encourage those with OA of the knee to begin a low impcat exercise routine, such as walking, for at least 30 minutes a day, 5-7 days a week.  Another important factor is that people with OA of the knees should maintain a healthy wieght.  The more overwieght a person is, the more stress put on the knees.  If the stairs in your house are a source of apin, or if your wife feels unsafe on the stairs, please factor that into your decision.  The stairs may hurt but will not harm the knee joint.   A refferal to physical therapy for quad strenthening and gait training may be helpful.  

Victoria Ruffing, RN

Ms. Ruffing has been a member of the Arthritis Center since 2000, currently serving as the Nurse Manager. She is a critical member of our patient care team.

Primary Sidebar

Ask The Expert Topics

  • Alternative Therapies
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Associated With Other Illnesses
  • Bursitis and Tendinitis
  • Corticosteroids
  • Diet and Exercise
  • Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs)
  • Enteropathic Arthritis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • General Arthritis
  • Gout, Pseudogout, Other
  • Infectious Arthritis
  • Myositis
  • Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Reactive Arthritis
  • Regional Pain: Back and Neck
  • Rehabilitation
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Surgical Therapy
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
  • Systemic Sclerosis
  • Vasculitis
RheumTV Logo

Rheum.TV is an informational platform created to educate patients living with a rheumatic disease. With over 100 disease education videos produced by the team at Johns Hopkins Rheumatology.

Visit Rheum.TV

Footer

Johns Hopkins Rheumatology

  • Johns Hopkins Rheumatology
  • Johns Hopkins Lupus Center
  • Johns Hopkins Lyme Disease Research Center
  • Johns Hopkins Myositis Center
  • Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center
  • Johns Hopkins Sjögren’s Syndrome Center
  • Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Johns Hopkins Medicine

© 2023 Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
Patient Privacy